3 Ways To Cut Down On In-Home Allergens

It's not uncommon for anyone to experience a little allergy related congestion at some point in the year. Flowers, pollen, and weeds often are the number one cause of the itchy eyes, stuffy nose, and foggy headed symptoms that indicate an allergy. While outdoor allergies may come and go with the season, there is another source of irritation lurking in your home. It's not uncommon for individuals to overlook what's in their own home as the cause of their nasal discomfort. Here are 3 places in your home where congestion inducing allergens may be causing you to sneeze and sniffle year round.

• At the Door

  Your welcome mat may visually appealing to everyone who comes into your home, but did you know that it can really be an inviting haven for mold, mildew, and dust mites? If you're keeping things real with a welcome mat made of a natural materials like rope, you are increasing the amount of allergens that can accumulate and grow in your home. Natural mats can break down over time causing them to create small particles that can get tracked through your home or go airborne, leaving you sneezing and coughing the moment you walk in the door.

  You can easily combat this natural build of of allergens by giving your mat a good cleaning at least every other week. You can also control the amount of particles that enter your house by giving the front and back door a good sweep every few days removing, bugs, dirt, and grass or plant particles.

• Kitchen

  The very nature of the kitchen makes it a perfect place for allergy causing particles to form and dorm. Food that falls to the floor or dirt that gets tracked in from outside can find it's way under the fridge, over, and in various other nooks and crannies. Once they find a home in this dark places, they can turn into the mold, mildew and fungus that causes the chaos on your head and sinuses. Even the dish drying rack and hand towels can become breeding grounds for mold. Keep a hold on the kitchen allergens by making it a point to give the floor a good cleaning and that includes underneath your appliances. Use a bleach and water mix to kill germs and bacteria that can grow everywhere from counter tops to corners.

• Living Room

  Many families find that they spend the most time in the living room. All that time doesn't come with out a cost. Allergy causing from shoes, coats, and pants can cling to the couch, chairs,and carpeting, making every seat a breeding ground for mites and dust particles. Pets increase the allergen factor since their dander and fur/hair can also cling to a variety of surfaces of your home. Investing in a quality vacuum cleaner is an excellent way to cut down on living room allergens. Vacuum the carpet daily and try to vacuum your furniture on a regular basis. If you really want to cut down on the amount of allergens that collect in the family room, consider getting leather or suede furniture that is less formidable to dust and mites than other materials.

01 Dec 2008 11:15:02

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Source: http://boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/~

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Source: http://news.google.com/news/url

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